This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Lansdale
Borough Emergency Police and Fire Alarm Ordinance."
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this chapter:
ANSWERING SERVICE
A service whereby trained employees in attendance at all
times receive prerecorded voice messages from automatic protection
devices reporting an emergency at a stated location and who have the
duty to relay immediately by live voice any such emergency message
over a designated or direct trunk line to the communications center
of the Police Department or Fire Department.
AUDIBLE ALARM
Any device, bell, horn or siren which is attached to the
interior or exterior of a building and emits a warning signal audible
outside the building and designed to attract attention when activated
by a criminal act or other emergency requiring police to respond.
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE
An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus
and related hardware which automatically transmits a prerecorded voice
alarm over regular telephone lines, by direct or indirect connection
to the Police Department or Fire Department, upon receipt of a stimulus
from a sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition
inherently characteristic of a fire or intrusion.
CENTRAL STATION PROTECTIVE SYSTEM
A protective system, or group of such systems, operated privately
for customers by a person, firm or corporation which maintains supervisors
and accepts recorded messages from automatic protection devices at
a central station having trained operators and guards in attendance
at all times that have the duty to take appropriate action upon receipt
of a signal or message, including the relaying of messages by designated
or direct trunk lines to the communications center of the Police Department
or Fire Department.
FALSE ALARM
Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any
audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given
the police or fire communications center to which police or firemen
respond, which is not the result of a burglary, fire, robbery or similar
emergency.
INTERMEDIARY
A central station protective system or an answering service,
as herein defined.
KEY
To use a telephone line and equipment for transmitting a
message, either directly or indirectly, by an automatic protection
device.
PERMIT
Written permission, duly granted to an applicant by the Borough
upon payment of the required fee.
SECRETARY
The Secretary of the Borough of Lansdale.
Except as provided in Subsections A and B of this section, after
the enactment of this chapter users must equip audible alarms with
a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible alarm after a maximum
period of 15 minutes. Audible alarms without such a timing mechanism
shall be unlawful in the Borough and must be disconnected by the user
within 60 days from the effective date of this chapter. The following
shall be excepted from the provisions of this section:
A. Audible fire alarm signals provided for the evacuation of occupants
of industries, institutions and other similar premises.
B. Audible signals provided to indicate water flow in an automatic fire
sprinkler system.
The alarm user shall be responsible for having the device disconnected
or repaired as quickly as possible after notice that the automatic
protection device is not functioning properly.
No person shall conduct any test or demonstration of an automatic
protection device without first obtaining permission from the Police
Department where the equipment is keyed through an intermediary. No
such permission is necessary unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed
to the Police Department or the Fire Department of the Borough of
Lansdale.
Users shall pay such connection and annual fees as the Borough
shall set by resolution from time to time. The Borough may set permit
fees and adopt regulations to implement this chapter from time to
time.
For the purpose of enforcing this chapter, it shall be a condition
to installing and maintaining an automatic protection device that
the Code Enforcement Officer or the Chiefs of the Police Department
and Fire Department may enter upon a user's premises within the Borough,
at such reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, to inspect the
installation or operation of an automatic protection device. Each
user shall cooperate with such officials in every reasonable manner
to permit such inspections.
[Amended 10-3-1984 by Ord. No. 1310]
A. Failure of any person to comply with the requirements of written
notice of any provision herewith shall constitute an offense punishable
by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 plus costs of prosecution
to be collectible before any Magisterial District Judge as like fines
and penalties are not by law collected. Such notice shall continue
in force and effect until full compliance with the requirements stated
therein, and each and every failure to comply with such notice within
24 hours will constitute a separate offense.
B. Any person found guilty of misuse, continual accidental activation
or false activation of an automatic protection device shall be liable
for a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 plus costs of
prosecution for each and every activation, to be collected before
any Magisterial District Judge as like fines and penalties are now
by law collectible.